Author's Note

Reminder that I am composing an OST to this story, which you can find linked in it's description!

Chapter Three

Equestria, August 12, 1502

Ponyville had not changed much, with the exception of old Equestrian banners being replaced with the New Solar Empire's flag. Though, it seemed so different. The atmosphere was so despairing, Sunrise thought. She shook her head, the carriage ride was long enough getting there and thinking of how terrible things were just made it longer. She recalled Daybreaker's words, calming herself down and putting a smile on her face.

After a while, the carriage stopped and she opened the door to reveal her castle, which had been locked up the past couple of days in her absence. She smiled to the stallions pulling the carriage as she walked out, before using her magic to unlock the doors of her castle and walking in. Her friends would be arriving at any point in time, so she had to be quick to prepare the meeting table. It wouldn't have been for another thirty minutes, of course, but Twilight knew her friends. If she was around, they would waste no time to be around as well.

As she had thought, it only took five minutes after her arrival for the first of them to arrive. It was Applejack; always early, the honest worker was. Sunrise gave a smile, and was met with one, as well as the confused look she was so used to by now.

"What'd ya do with your mane, Twilight?" Applejack asked. Sunrise chuckled.

"The name is Sunrise," she said softly, "and I figured I liked the color red. Take a seat, Applejack."

"Well, color me confused," Applejack said, taking a seat at the table at the throne labeled with her cutiemark, "but I don't remember you ever talkin'bout a name change. I guess you're really takin' after the new Empress Daybreaker. Speakin' of, weren't you worried about that a while back?"

"I was," Sunrise replied, "but she would defeat Nightmare Moon with nothing more than a sharp glare. There is no need for me to worry about it, especially with it having already been done."

"Woah now Sunrise, dear," Applejack said cautiously, "there's no need to be talkin' like that, is there?"

"You're still so kind and hopeful," Sunrise replied, "and I share the sentiment. I wish there were no need for violence, but alas here we are. Hearts being torn out of our soldiers, fillies being skinned alive, and diplomats being shot to death. There has to be a response."

"I s'pose," Applejack said, "just not like this."

Before Sunrise could offer a response, the other four came in. Rainbow Dash flying, Rarity and Fluttershy walking, and Pinkie bouncing. As usual. They all took a seat at their respective thrones, greeting Applejack before turning to Sunrise and giving those looks again. Before they could mention it, Sunrise held up her hoof.

"Before you ask any more of the questions I've heard a thousand times already," Sunrise said, "my name is Sunrise Sparkle. I am Lady Inquisitor to Empress Daybreaker. Now that this is out of the way, we have more important matters to discuss."

"Oooh, are the Elements of Harmony needed again?" Pinkie asked with excitement.

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash followed up, "we get to blast rainbows at the Changelings again!"

"Mayhaps we could find Starlight as well and help her find her way again," Rarity said, brushing her mane magic and a hairbrush.

"That would be nice," Fluttershy said softly, "we don't want to lose any friends."

"No," Sunrise said sternly. The five friends looked in confusion towards her, with the exception of Applejack, who was facing down as she was afraid she already had an idea of what Sunrise was going to say. Before any objections, Sunrise continued, "the Elements of Harmony have been decommissioned. By next week, they will be reassembled into a single artifact possessed solely by the Empress."

"What!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "you mean we're just giving the Elements away to Celestia?"

"I am giving the Elements to Empress Daybreaker," Sunrise corrected, "it is no longer our right to possess such power."

"It never was our right, darling," Rarity objected, "but our destiny! Do you not remember—"

"I remember," Sunrise said, "by the Empress, I remember every single disembarkation we made to issue the salvation of friendship across the three continents. I remember every time you were all there for me, and every time I was there for all of you. But those memories cannot halt what needs to be done, yet, being that you are my friends, I offer you a choice."

"A choice of what, Sunrise?" Applejack asked with worry in her voice, "what could you be doing that we wouldn't stay at your side with?"

"If you choose to stay by my side," Sunrise explained, "then your first effort will be to seek out Starlight Glimmer and have her taken to me."

"Alright!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a grin, "we're still rescuing friendships!"

"No we are not," Sunrise retorted grimly, "I will be interrogating her before she is executed in Canterlot, along with any of her conspirators."

There was a deafening silence across the room. All of them, even Applejack, all seemed to stop thinking as the word executed came from the muzzle of Princess Twilight Sparkle herself. The Princess of Friendship, suggesting—nay, demanding execution?

"That's crazy!" Pinkie suddenly exclaimed, "we can't just. . .k-k—we can't just do that!"

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash seconded, "since when did we start killing ponies?"

"Since never," Sunrise reassured, "but that is your option. Either you join me today in doing what is necessary, or you leave, and forsake my guarantee of your safety."

"Is that a threat, Twilight?" Applejack asked. Sunrise shot a glare towards her.

"Sunrise," she said through gritted teeth. Applejack honestly felt fear, but more than that, she felt sorrow and disappointment.

"You'll always be Twilight to me," Applejack said woefully.

"Then I will always be dead to you," Sunrise replied, "now, make your decision here and now, all of you!"

That silence again, it almost hurt their ears. The equines thought for several moments about it. Execution was not something they were willing to do by any means, but to forsake Twilight? The more they thought, the more they began to question if Twilight was even there anymore.

"We've been through so much," Fluttershy said, holding back tears, "would you really just leave us if we didn't decide to kill a pony?"

"I have known the Empress longer," Sunrise replied coldly. Fluttershy couldn't stop her tears.

"No, no I won't do it!" she cried out, "I won't kill for anypony, it's wrong!"

"Me either!" Rainbow Dash said, "I'm out!"

"This is bad. . ." Pinkie said quietly, her mane beginning to fall straight, "I don't think. . ."

"I refuse this offer," Rarity said, "killing is absolutely out of the question."

Sunrise looked at Applejack, who was staring at the table still.

"And you, Applejack?" Sunrise asked, "which side of history do you wish to be on?"

Applejack turned to Sunrise with a stern expression, leaning forward before speaking clearly and confidently.

"The side of Friendship, Sunrise," she said, "the side you've left!"

The five friends all got up, walking out without a word further. Sunrise sat back in her throne. This meeting could not have gone any worse, she thought, but it was a necessary learning experience. Friends who would not support the Empire, she thought, were friends not worth having. After several minutes, when she knew they had left the building, she lit her horn, firing a bolt of magic, which split into five parts and removed the cutiemark labels from the thrones surrounding the table. She lit her horn again, changing the label on her own throne to match the new cutiemark on her hinds. With a sigh, she faced the door to see a concerned Spike standing with some cupcakes.

"Twilight. . ?" Spike said quietly, "is everything alright?"

"Come here, Spike," Sunrise said softly, "I need you for something."

"Oh, uh, of course!" Spike replied, jogging over to her and putting the six cupcakes on the table before facing Sunrise, "what is it?"

Sunrise gave him a tight hug, before weeping greatly. Spike was unsure of what to do, but he hugged her back as she continued to cry. He said not another word, but let her get everything out as he knew this wasn't a small argument, but a final goodbye. He didn't agree with Twilight, but he loved her, and he wouldn't have left her for all the bits in the world. If she needed a friend, even if she turned evil, he would be there because she was always there for him.

Half an hour had passed, and Sunrise had started to calm down. Her sobbing had turned to light sniffles, and she kept a tight embrace around Spike. Finally, he decided it was time to speak.

"Well, I brought six cupcakes," he said, "but I suppose that's more for you, right?"

"More for us," Sunrise replied with a chuckle, still sniffling a bit, "I'll be returning to Canterlot soon, you'll be coming with me."

"Wow, really?" Spike said with awe as they finally let go of one another, "but who will take care of the castle?"

"Ponies who are paid to do it," Sunrise said, smiling a bit, "but I believe Empress Daybreaker will have no issue with you coming along."

"Aw, thanks Twilight," he said, giving her another hug.

"Oh, and call me Sunrise Sparkle," she said, patting his head.

"Yes ma'am, Sunrise Sparkle!" Spike said with a salute, warranting another soft laugh from Sunrise.

What a wonderful friend Spike was.

Crystal Empire, August 19, 1502

Shining Armor sat at a desk, It'd been a week since Daybreaker graced he and his wife with her presence, and it wasn't bothering him any less now than it was the moment she walked in. He believed in war, of course. He knew friendship and harmony wasn't going to win, but Daybreaker wasn't matching military power, she was matching cruelty. He knew within his heart that such a thing was worlds apart from what Celestia would ever do, but at the same time he felt partially responsible. It was his letter, he knew, that caused her to change. Maybe there was a better way to break the news, maybe he could have lied, or maybe he could have told her in person and it would have been easier. Worse, he thought Twilight would be able to stop her from doing anything silly which is why he told his sister in the first place, but it seems the opposite happened.

Within a week, Celestia had already formed alliances with Zebrabwe and the Kirin Grove. While the Eastern Lair was disinterested in joining the war as they thought 'no gryphon was stupid enough to invade them, they would need alicorn magic to even attempt it', they were willing to be trade partners and facilitate equine military movement throughout their lands as they 'didn't want to have to make an example of the gryphons'. Trotslyvania was close to falling, standing on it's last brave hooves as Griffonstone's onslaught continued. Bugbear Territory, however, was holding up well, and close to pushing back against the Griffonst Station. In the meantime, Griffonstone had setup intramountainous camps within the Himallamas, killing a majority of the adult male llamas of the region and putting the rest to work as slaves. Male, female, or child, it didn't matter to the Gryphons.

Shining Armor began to notice something, every one of the great factions, including the Solar Empire, were supremacist states. With no care for a race other than their own, all others were mere insects or animals. For the Changelings, he understood, as they were parasites by definition. However, hearing Daybreaker's response on the raiding of Hailberg was extremely disheartening. Her comments on the Zebras were positive, but political. It seemed she had no interest in how well they fared, only that they kept the Changelings at bay long enough for her to reorganize the Empire's Front Line Assault. He couldn't forget the words she spoke of the moose.

"Those isolated suffer the consequences of their own ignorance, a responsibility spared of me and my little ponies. Good riddance to them."

This would have been expected of her new persona, but what bothered Shining Armor more than that was that Daybreaker was aware of exactly what happened. In fact, all of the Solar Empire was, as the Changeling strategy involved making public every bit of their cruelty to the finest detail, invoking fear into the hearts of innocent families so to increase their love for feeding later. Rather than feel that matching cruelty was a never-ending cascade of hatred, the Solar Empire roared with applause at yet another charismatic hatemongering speech of Daybreaker's. Most of the Empire, if not all of it, shared the same indifference for what happened with the moose, and it made Shining sick to his stomach.

With a few passing moments of these troubling thoughts, Cadence opened the door to Shining's office. He groaned.

"Honey," he said with a forehoof to his face, "it doesn't hurt to knock."

"It doesn't hurt to have some coffee, either," Cadence said with a disapproving grunt, placing a tray on Shining's desk, "the least you could do is see what I'm doing before you fuss at me."

"I'm sorry sweetie," he muttered, quickly grabbing the coffee and drinking it. It burnt his tongue, but he was too frustrated to even tell, "all of this is stressful."

"Oh I know," Cadence said, nuzzling his neck softly, "that's why I made your coffee just the way you like it. Two tablespoons of sugar and a shot of milk."

Shining chuckled softly. Not once did he ever think he made a mistake marrying that mare, though several times he believed she made a mistake marrying him. He questioned her recent actions, and he didn't agree with many of them. She had not only played directly into Daybreaker's hooves, but had gone further in casting a breeding spell across the Crystal Empire. She gave a speech shortly after encouraging the crystal ponies to procreate for the 'new Solar Empire', promising greatness and protection under Daybreaker's 'holy rule'. With impatience for the arrival of Solar Empire propaganda, she had actually produced her own, earning the admiration of Daybreaker of course.

'Two empires to protect the world, will you be a part?'

'Crystal miners are the fuel of the Empire's resources, be a part of your great nation for 17.25 bits/hr!'

'The homely mother is the heart of the war, stay strong and support the fight!'

'Changelings infect the lands, will you be one of the heroes on cleanup?'

It gave him a headache just to think back at how well-made they were. It almost inspired him, and he hated it. Still, regardless of how ill-thought her actions were, he still loved his wife. Cadence quirked her head at him.

"Deep in thought again, even with coffee?" she asked with a smile. Shining looked up at her with a smile, yet one of concern and sorrow.

"Cadence, I love you," he said, "I don't agree with anything you're doing at all, but I love you."

"Oh Shiny," Cadence replied with a sigh, kissing Shining on the cheek, "I love you, too. I don't really agree with what I'm doing either but I don't think I have a choice, I don't think we have a choice. Whether that's because of Daybreaker's retaliation or because of the simple fact of war I don't even want to figure out."

Shining thought about that for a moment. 'I don't think we have a choice'. He'd be damned if he didn't have a choice, and that's when he got an idea. He finished his coffee, getting up from his desk.

"You keep being a good leader," Shining said reassuringly, "I think I'm going to go be one myself."

Cadence smiled, though she wasn't sure what it meant. Regardless, Shining stepped out of the room, gathering a few short traveling supplies before using his magic to call a small convoy to his location after exiting the palace.

"We're dispatching from the Crystal Empire," he said quietly through the small orb, "Northwest to Yakyakistan, I have a proposal for them."

North Polar Lair, August 20, 1502

The Polar Leader was taking a leisurely walk outside of the lair, admiring the vast scenery of the Frozen North's mountains. A well-deserved rest after another fruitful hunt with the Icebreaker's Party, a band of their most well-trained agents which included the Polar Leader himself. While he was officially titled the 'Polar Leader', he was referred to as 'Great President Arthur Patton'. The Icebreaker's Party had not engaged in warfare for a long time, but to sooth their need for a fight, they would hunt Ampitheres roaming the deeper valleys, and if they wanted a small challenge, an occasional Hydra. These creatures were simply monsters with no intelligence, but they did make delicious meals for the Polar Bears, and quite large ones at that.

Polar Bears were known for their overwhelming strength, endurance, and resolve. They held a someone national honor to their lands, taken from the Ampitheres and Hydras long ago by the first brave settlers who drove them out of their very own lair. Now, just waifs and strays for Polar Bears to feed from when they got tired of fish. Arthur had quite a lot of pride concerning not only himself, but his home. While they were not a strictly-authoritarian state, they existed under absolute rule that was simply indifferent to the actions of the bears beneath. All of the Polar Bears loved their lands, and allowing them absolute freedom to flourish, or even fight with one another, was in the best interest of all of them. Another point of pride, he would think to himself, that harsh leadership isn't necessary to keep a Polar Bear in order, they keep themselves in order and deal with their own problems without whining to government. It was an admirable quality, he believed.

However, rather than experience his full leisure, he saw a bright light in the sky, which soon landed fifteen feet from him. An equine bathed in fire, standing just outside of the lair. He wasn't fearful of the sight, just confused as he had not seen an equine around since. . .well, forever.

"You look like Celestia," he mused, crossing his forelegs, as most Polar Bears walked on their hinds, "but you have a little more fire, and a little less rainbow."

"Arthur, you never fail to amuse me," Daybreaker said with a hearty laugh, "I am Empress Daybreaker, and I'd like to made a proposal."

"Is this about the Trinational War?" Arthur said with a quirked brow.

"For being nearly isolated in the north, you Polar Bears do know how to keep an eye on things," Daybreaker replied as a note of praise, "yes, it is. I hear you are hungry for war, I figured I could offer you an alliance with the Empire with a bit of extra incentive."

"And what might that be?" Arthur questioned further. Daybreaker chuckled.

"Resources to expand your infrastructure across the Frozen North, and perhaps. . ." Daybreaker leaned forward with almost a look of seduction, "Yakyakistan."

Arthur's eyes lit up. While the Polar Bears were mighty—with internal magic similar to Earth Ponies but far more resilient—even with their strength, Yayyakistan territory was too deep within the mountains. Polar Bears might have been strong, but they weren't able to traverse tall, jagged mountains. Furthermore, they, like any species, were not invulnerable to very sharp spikes of ice within the valleys of the Frozen North just west of Mount Everhoof. In fact, they weren't capable of traveling to the Equus continent's southern regions due to those very same mountains blocking the Frozen North just past the hills of Stratusburg lest they traveled by beach, which was far too warm in that region for Polar Bears to handle without strenuous effort.

While the land and infrastructure help was nice, the greatest of Daybreaker's phenomenal proposition was the conquering of the Yaks. The Yaks were similarly powerful in their physique to the Polar Bears, but far more distasteful in their pride. While Arthur and his Polar Bears had pride in their accomplishments, the Yaks had pride in their circumstances, and liked to rub that in everyone's face the best they could. There was longstanding conflict between the Polar Bears and the Yaks, though the Yaks were just as capable of crossing the 'Arms of Everhoof' as the Polar Bears were. Mostly an insult to national pride between the two. Arthur also knew that the Yaks did not get along with Equestria very well, and surely wouldn't get along with the Solar Empire.

"Empress Daybreaker," Arthur said with a grin, "the Polar Bears would be delighted to take up this offer. In fact, I believe a celebration is in order. Gather your nobles tomorrow and we will prepare the Grand Hall of the lair for a great celebration."

"A remarkable offer," Daybreaker said with a smile, "I will be sure to have such arranged by 18:00 tomorrow."

Hailberg, August 20, 1502

It didn't take long to create a new hive within Hailberg. While their technology was lacking, the Changeling work ethic was unmatched by even the most powerful countries. It may have taken the Solar Empire several months to build the equivalent of a capital building, while it would take Griffonstone nearly two months. Yet, the Changelings were able to accomplish the same in merely five days, and prepare it in two. There was one issue, however, that being that water existed. Chrysalis had never really needed a navy, but now that she realized the best vantage points were by way of sea, she figured it would be the next big project for her children. This was fine, of course, as after raiding Hailberg, to say her children were well-fed would be an understatement.

"Mindcarrier," she said, sitting upon a newly-fashioned throne within the hive as the Greater Mindcarrier walked up to her, "we need a navy."

The Mindcarrier paused for a moment. Mindcarriers were organized by Greater, Great, and Lessers. Greater Mindcarriers functioned specifically as commanders over legion groups which numbered around 60,000. Great Mindcarriers functioned as commanders over individual legions, which numbered around 5,000 to 15,000. Lesser Mindcarriers served as commanders over armies between 500 to 1,000 troops. Beyond that, the Changelings were self-sufficient to lead smaller parties and groups during battle. The Mindcarriers shared the collective intelligence of the hive, there was nothing one knew that another didn't.

"My Queen, if I may ask," the Mindcarrier asked, "what is a navy?"

Chrysalis smacked her own face with a hoof. She just cast a spell to update the hive intelligence. Something she had to do to disperse information evenly among her colonies. If she had information she didn't want going to the hive, such as, perhaps, her private practices, it would be filtered away from the update. If there was information she didn't think necessary at the time to update to the hive intelligence, such as what a navy was or how to make one, then it would likewise be filtered out. She sighed, patting her little Mindcarrier on the head.

"Silly bug," she said with a sigh, "I'll have some blueprints and information updated here in a moment, so don't you worry."

She rose from her throne, walking into a large room within the new hive structure that glowed with an aura of neon green. This room, being as important as it was, was directly connected to the throne room of their respective Hives. Within was a great, green, orb-like and self-sustained concentration of hivemagic that flowed through the hive structure. It wasn't so simple as it sounded, as during the construction of a hive, the veins must be created by hivemagic from the material that created the structure itself—a mixture of Changeling saliva, mud, and crushed rock. While hivemagic was involved in the base material, existing within the Changeling's saliva as a digestive agent used solely for the purpose of construction to chemi-magically alter the structure, the concentrated hive magic transformed the material into an almost living vein to carry and disperse information throughout the hive. This information would travel to Greater Mindcarriers, then to Great Mindcarriers, then to Lesser Mindcarriers before finally reaching every individual Changeling within a span of five seconds.

Chrysalis lit her horn, closing her eyes and envisioning her future naval force. Ships constructed of the same material, with cannons used to harness hive magic similarly to their horns. This magic was not always stronger than unicorn magic, though the comparison wasn't quite so far. Unicorns have magical strength based on their physique and knowledge, while hivemagic is based on consumed love. Chrysalis was an exception, of course, as the Queen was capable of much more potent magic as a result of not only her base form, but likewise of the amount of love she had eaten herself.

With a flash, greenish light like flowing hair spread from the tip of her horn and was drawn in to the large orb, which glowed brightly as the information was dispersed throughout the hive in less than a second before traveling beyond and even to the other hive. It may have seemed an issue that two separate hive intelligence structures existed, but in fact one worked as backup to another and vice versa. Chrysalis smiled, walking back to her throne.

"Mindcarrier," she said again, "I need a navy."

The Mindcarrier nodded, lighting his horn with a bright flash, acting as a 'ping' to disperse the information in a likened manner to the aforementioned.

"The Changeling Hive, Vesalipolis, a naval power," Chrysalis said to herself softly, chuckling, "I like the sound of that."

Yakyakistan, August 21, 1502

"Sir, if I may ask, what exactly are we doing in Yakyakistan again?"

Solar Blaze, a general stationed within the Crystal Empire directly from the Solar Empire as part of the newly-instated policy entitled the 'Dual Empirical Upbringing Act' which offered limited free usage of Solar and Crystal assets for the support of one another, was rather confused as to why such an esteemed Field Marshall of the Empire's army requested a convoy to Yakyakistan of all places. Solar Blaze did not know Shining Armor very well, in fact, he wasn't much of a talker regardless. He just liked to do his job, which is why Empress Daybreaker thought fondly of him enough to delegate authority over organization of Solar forces within the Crystal dominion directly to him. Because of this, of course, he was the best option for Shining to call upon, but only resourcefully. It was rather risky to have called him, but Shining didn't have too many options to go with.

Shining let out a sigh. How in Tartarus was he going to answer this one? He couldn't just tell the General, 'We're conspiring against the Empire, don't tell Empress Daybreaker'.

"A diplomatic effort," he finally answered, "I don't want to deal with the Yaks, but I believe it will make for a. . .uh. . .pleasant surprise. Daybreaker wants all the resources she can get for an army, right? I'm just doing my part."

"You must have not heard, then," General Blaze said, turning to the window of their carriage. Shining quirked a brow before Blaze continued, "Empress Daybreaker has already organized an alliance with the Polar Bears, I doubt the Yaks will want anything to do with us after they've figured that out."

Damnit. Shining was between a rock and a hard place, now. How in the world was he supposed to convince the general that what he was doing was for the Empire and not to dismantle it later? He gritted his teeth with tightly shut eyes as he tried to think through the migraine he was getting.

"Then call it a subversion tactic, whatever," he said, losing his patience, "whatever the case, we'll get information on the Yaks that will server the Empire. Is that good enough?"

"You seem a bit. . .irritated," Solar Blaze pointed out, turning his eyes to Shining, "is there something you're not telling me?"

"Nothing that you need to know!" Shining shouted, slamming his hoof against the wall of the carriage, "just be quiet and do your damn job."

Solar Blaze widened his eyes a bit and gazed towards the window again. He didn't particularly care about what his orders were, just that he followed them. Though, his curiosity did begin to fester as he pondered the various possibilities. Shining seemed to be hardened by service in the Royal Guard, but that hardening was only as thick as a True Harmonist could manage. True Harmonist being the name of a newly-rising group of traditionalist Equestrians who disagreed with the Empire's decisions. Their numbers were so few, however, that they were hardly considered a threat by Daybreaker. However, with someone positioned so highly favoring the traditionalist outlook. . .

The carriage came to a sudden stop before the left door opened.

"We are here, sir," a guard said. Shining quickly left the carriage and stepped outside.

"I'll deal with this alone, you keep guard of the carriage," he ordered, "and by the Gods if something tries to attack you, slaughter it."

He approached the gates, whatever came next would surely make him a traitor.